Blogs from Tupiza, Potosí Department, Bolivia, South America - page 2

Ola de Bolivia, Having survived the border crossing from Argentina to Bolivia unscathed and watched with amusement as some Bolivians used the unoffical border crossing (running over the dry riverbed that seperates Argentina and Bolivia), I marveled at the women in the traditional bowler hats and pleated satin skirts, met some newly trained English medics (I am like a bloody groupie) and set off to get some money. The ATMs in Bolivia take Mastercard in theory but not so often in practice. I schlepped up and down the dusty road trying to change the leftover Chilean money to Bolivianos....pleading with a man in Spanglish to stay open for another five minutes so I could get a bus to Tupiza to start some fun stuff. One of the medics lent me the 1 pound for the bus ... read more

We depart Salta on the Saturday catching a bus at 7am to get to the border town of La Quiaca from where we hope to cross into Bolivia. It is a 7.5 hour ride, initially through the area that we did a tour a few days ago, and then further into really arid and harsh landscapes. We have the two front seats on the top level of the bus, and it provides a great view, but also means copping a pounding from the sun as it rises from its slumber into full force. La Quiaca is small dusty town, that really only seems to exist as a border control point with Bolivia. It is a 20 minute walk to the border, and after getting some directions from an old Bolivian lady we successfully locate it. We ... read more

Hi all, here we are in Tupiza, after a harrowing 3 hours to cross from Argentina into Bolivia....but that's another story for another time. Rosco gets Abandoned in Salta.... After a relaxing couple of nights in Salta, including a cultural, Tourist dinner including the succulent goat meat I have ever eaten, I have had my fair share of rough stuff in the past. The boys told the staff that it was my 80th birthday and we were there to cellebrate it, soon after the band struck up 'Happy Bithday Roco', then a cake arrived with a candle and a fire work that fird up and sprayed all over the cake, but every one enjoyed it. Scratch finished up on the stage giving a big Rah, Rah for New Zealand, when they produced our flag. There is ... read more

For an amateur geologist like myself, Tupiza was so delicious. The little town was nestled in a spectacular setting of red-rock canyons, multicolored hills, and cactus forests and bisected by a dramatic, ever-changing river. With only 25,000 people, it was small enough that I easily got out of town and accessed fine hiking trails. Plus, in Bolivia, everything was wonderfully affordable, so I had an upscale room, went horseback riding in Butch Cassidy country and gorged on gorgeous tropical fruit. As usual, time stretched and my planned days became weeks. Cry for Me, Argentina I left the multi-colored canyons of my beloved Iruya when the Argentine holidays began; on January 3rd, the once-peaceful town had become swamped, and I lost my room. With a week left on my visa, I went to little-visited, adobe Yavi (population ... read more

Weiter ging es ueber Puno nach Copacabana, Bolivien. Die Einreise war entspannt, nur verschlechterten sich sofort die Strassenverhaeltnisse. Copacabana liegt am 3808m hoch gelegenen Titicacasee, dem hoechstgelegenen, schiffbaren See der Welt. Von hier setzten wir zur wunderschoenen Isla del Sol ueber, auf der der Sonnenkult der Inka entstanden ist. Wir wanderten fuenf Stunden vom Norden in den Sueden der Insel. Die Insel selbst, der riesige See und die ueber 6000m hohen Berge der Cordillera Real waren ein geniales Naturerlebnis. Von Copacabana fuhren wir mit dem Bus ueber La Paz (das wir links liegen liessen) nach Oruro. Hier konnten wir uns fuer den folgenden Tag Zugtickets nach Uyuni kaufen. Uyuni besteht zum groessten Teil aus Hostels und Agenturen, die den Trip in die Salar de Uyuni anbieten. Wir buchten uns eine Drei-Tages-Tour, die wir mit einer sehr ... read more